Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel
West Coast

The Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel is on the outskirts of the gorgeous fishing village of Paternoster, north of the more well-known Langebaan on the West Coast of South Africa. Paternoster is in fact the oldest fishing village on the Western Cape and is perched on the tip of the West Coast Peninsula, 145 kilometres from Cape Town.

The Strandloper is a 14-bedroom boutique hotel with three room categories: Courtyard Rooms, Ocean Suites and Nature King Suites. The Courtyard Rooms either have a private courtyard or a balcony both offering fantastic views, and the Ocean Suites have large windows that open onto terraces, with sweeping views down to the beach and out into the Atlantic. The Nature King Suites are built on the riverbanks overlooking the West Coast Nature Reserve and like the Ocean Suites, have wonderful landscape views. The interiors are coastal chic, striped cushions, painted white floorboards with cosy wool throws for the winter months. The hotel also houses an Elements Wellness Suite that offers Healing Earth treatments; treat yourself to a full body massage after a long day in the great outdoors exploring the West Coast.

The Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel is a sweet getaway and offers guests privacy and exclusivity. However, its proximity to the centre of Paternoster means that you can easily walk out to explore the village or head out for a meal; being a fishing village, Paternoster has delicious fish and seafood restaurants, certainly worth spending a few days working through them! The fabulous and award-winning Wolfgat is an Ampersand favourite and comes highly recommended.

Whilst staying here get out amongst the nature, even a simple beach walk will be restorative. The nearby West Coast Fossil Park offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the exceptionally well-preserved fossil fauna which is circa 5.2 million years old. There are also some lovely hiking trails, mountain biking and horse-riding trails in close proximity to the hotel, so there is something for everyone. 

A trip to Paternoster is a perfect addition to a Cape Town itinerary, just a mere 90-minute drive away from the Mother City it is easily accessible, yet still retains a very much ‘off-the-beaten-track’ vibe. Fishermen, fishing boats, the weather-beaten fynbos growing across the dunes, and a handful of visitors looking to get away from it all – bliss!

I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.
David Attenborough